By Tina Ranjbar and Lola Irelewuyi

High spirits filled the homes of countless Iranian people with the dawn of Nowruz. Nowruz, or “new day” in Persian, celebrates the first day of spring. The day consists of feasting, visiting loved ones, and exchanging gifts. However, the pandemic hindered many Iranians from partaking in their typical festivities. Instead of spending the day with relatives and friends, Covid-19 guidelines forced them to quarantine at home. Despite these barriers, many traditions still remained intact, such as the tradition of setting up a “Haft-seen.” Haft-seen, or Haft-sin, is an arrangement of symbolic items on a table that start with the letter “ــس” (pronounced as “seen”). Some of these items are Sabzeh (wheat–symbolizing rebirth), Samanu (wheat germ sweet pudding–symbolizing affluence), Seeb (apple–symbolizing beauty and health), Seer (garlic–symbolizing medicine), and Somaq (sumac–symbolizing the colour of sunrise). A Haft-seen can differ from family to family, but other items of historical or cultural significance may include fish (symbolizing life), a mirror (symbolizing self-reflection), decorated eggs (symbolizing fertility), and so much more! To further read about the traditions of Nowruz, feel free to check out this article. Happy Nowruz Titans!

Photo by: Tina Ranjbar

Here is a picture of Tina’s Haft-seen!